Please note that these characters belong to their original creators as do any songs used in this fiction, not me, this is just my take on what might happen enjoy and let me know what you think.

also i am still trying to fix any mistakes that i might have missed in past chapters (i.e spelling, grammar and so on)

I'm back post sooner than I expected but later than I wanted, to all who are reading my story thank you for waiting

Neither side knew that the other was racing towards the fallen creature or that their destination was a place of great danger for all of them. The Autobots still reeling from the actions of Leach were rushing about Autobot city as transport planes were landing and being made ready to take them to the crash site. "we need a full load out here" ordered Major Lennox as he inspected the gear being readied for combat. Meanwhile Ironhide was gearing his cannons for battle while keeping the twins under control, "the pair of you are to get into line right now or so help me I'll strip you both down to your chassis" yelled the weapons specialist. All in all the city was a hive of activity as everybody readied themselves for a possible repeat of the battle in Egypt. Only Optimus wasn't rushing around, something in his spark wasn't sitting well and he didn't like the sensation. Knowing that if he performed a repeat of the last time Ratchet would try to take his head off Optimus set himself a limit as to how far he could go while trying to reach whatever was troubling his spark. The Autobot leader dimmed his optics as he cleared his mind and opened him self to the inner most depth of his spark sure that the limit he had imposed on himself would act as a safety line.

It took far longer this time given that there was much weighing heavily on the old Primes mind but slowly all in his thoughts was replaced by an empty void. Time passed and only the sensation that came from his spark echoed through the empty landscape of his thoughts. Then out of the darkness a small glimmer appeared and Optimus reached for it hoping to gain an answer only to be held back but the tether that he had created to keep himself on-line. The limit he had created was at his final limit and he knew that there was no way he could take any further so Optimus was forced to still himself and hope that some how whatever this was would reach out to him this time so he could grab it and hold on to whatever it was. Time slowly passed as the glimmer danced around him in a maddening fashion first coming closer then moving away again before he could get a good look at it. But the Autobot leader remained calm as he knew that there was little more he could do with out separating his spark from his body. As his mind stilled even more small whispers joined the glimmer in it's dance around the motionless form of Optimus mind that dewed with in his own mind. The more he reached with his thoughts the more it glimmer mover away from him so the Autobot leader stopped reaching out and slowed his thoughts so that they were in a state similar to stasis. Minutes passed and the glimmer stilled not moving as the whispers grew louder and became a message repeating it's self over and over. The words were still unclear and fuzzy but Optimus was now able to make out a pattern to them and he did not like the sound of it.

The more things stilled the more the message and the glimmer came into focus. For a moment there was a building like those of cybertron surrounded rich brown earth before the image faded back to a glimmer. The message became clearer as the words drew closer "...creature...corrupt...danger...power...cause...earth". The words were clear but confusing to the Autobot leader, "what creature?" thought Optimus and with that single thought the glimmer and the whispers vanished drowned out by the question. Once more the autobot leader tried to reach for the glimmer but it was gone and he could no longer find it or the feeling that had troubled his spark so badly. Returning to the outer world Optimus was left with more questions than answers and the most prominent was "what creature?" surely they were dealing with a Decepticon and not some alien creature. After all what other than a Cybertronian could survive re-entry on the back of a crippled shuttle and then make planet fall. Then came a new question, if it was some kind of creature then why would Megatron be working with it as he despised all other forms of life seeing them as inferior to him self and all Decepticons. Unfortunately Optimus knew that Sam would be the first to find some of these answers and the dangers that went with them.

Miles away the young Prime was leading the way to the impact site. With a little help from Bumblebee Sam had been able to work out the where this Decepticon had landed. Unfortunately the data showed that the only thing nearby was a nuclear power plant and that could only mean bad news it the worst happened. "I cant believe that megatron would do something like this bee, normally he's all about the feeling of the personal kill not some kind of destruction like this" commed the young Prime. Bumblebee quickly replied with "you have to remember that this is still a war even if it's in a lull, megatron will do what ever it takes to win even if it means playing dirty and if you think about it killing off as many humans as possible in raids like this one is a sound strategy if his forces are low in this sector". Sam fell silent at the reply as he knew that Bee was right even though he hated to think that way. Megatron had lost many battles due to the help of the humans and killing the people of earth would help his cause on end as it would reduce his enemy's to just the Autobots. To a species that could brave the depths of space radiation was no threat at all and overloading power plants was an easier task than gaining control of nuclear missiles and launching them at targets. Sam was able to picture how it would work, a lone Decepticon would sneak in and cause the core to breach sending clouds of toxic radioactive particles into the atmosphere killing everything in their path. For a Decepticon this would be a good tacit as buildings and other non organic objects would not be affected by the radiation giving the Decepticons plenty of raw materials to work with as well as places to hide where humans could not follow.

The thought made Sam's spark feel cold and ill, to think that the Decepticons would do such a thing was all most to much to take. But then these were the Cybertronians that had destroyed their own world leaving it lifeless and uninhabitable forcing both sides to flee to the stars searching for the allspark. No they would do this if they could and this was probably a test run before a main attack that would leave large parts of the planet usable only to the Decepticons as the Autobots would be to busy helping the sick and injured to stop an invasion force from landing. Images of Chernobyl flooded Sam's mind as he pictured the area around Moors Cliff left empty and lifeless should the Decepticon succeed with it's mission. "you don't have to come with us you know" said Sam's Avatar to the grey haired man sitting in his passenger seat. Simmons who had not spoken a word since their discovery of the impact site let out a sigh and said "look kid I joined S7 to protect the world from the threat of alien invasion and destruction and now I have the chance to do that, besides we'll probably get there and come face to face with this guy before he gets the chance to take one look at the reactor". Sam wished that he could be so confidant given what had happened in their last mission but right now doubt was a luxury none of them could afford as to many lives hung in the balance should this Decepticon achieve his objective. Feeling that he needed to talk to Bumblebee Sam opened his com link to his bonded only to find that he received nothing but static on his com channel.

Confused by the interference Sam tried to contact both Apache and Optimus only to find that he was cut of from everyone. Sam's Veyron alt slowed and pulled over by the side of the road as he tried to signal the others that something was wrong. Bumblebee instantly stopped and transformed saying "what's wrong sam I cant reach you on the com channel?", "I can't reach anyone bee" replied the young Prime as he deactivated his Avatar. Once Simmons was clear of his alt Sam transformed so that he could check his systems properly. As Sam and Bumblebee checked their systems Apache came in for a less than graceful landing saying "my com system isn't working again sir did you want to talk to me". "it's not just you apache" said Sam "I cant raise anyone on the coms no matter where they are". Bumblebee finished his checks and started scanning the area looking for trouble and he soon found a strange energy signature that was moving towards the direction of the power plant. "sam, apache set your scanners to a narrow band frequency then aim them in that direction" said Bee as he pointed towards the general direction of Moors Cliff. "what the hell is that?" asked the young Prime as Apache said "I've never seen energy like it sir". "hey human, no scanners, explain" yelled Simmons feeling left out of the conversation. "there's a power signature moving towards moors cliff and it's like nothing we've ever seen before, it's interfering with out com systems and most forms of non line based communication" explained Bumblebee. "so what do we have minutes?" asked the former S7 agent, "no and that's the strange thing" said Sam "it looks like this decepticon is moving slowly almost walking there, it doesn't make sense".

The three Autobots sat for a moment trying to figure out what was happening. "this isn't standard decepticon tactics" said Bumblebee as he looked at his bonded worriedly. Sam returned the worried gaze and said "if it's a trap then it's a little to obvious as any autobot could track this guy with ease, then there's the interference that's blocking all com channels, I doubt that a decepticon would cut himself off like this just to block our com systems". "then there's the matter of his speed" added Apache "I've never seen a decepticon travel so slowly, it's usually a case of get in and out fast with them when their on a sabotage mission". "that would make more sense" said the young Prime, "so we either have a trap that's really stupid or we have something else that's not like anything we've ever seen before" said Simmons. "we only have three choices in this, first we head out of the jamming field and wait for help, second we intercept this guy on route, third we get to the power plant and stop him getting anywhere near the reactor" said Sam as he ran the choices over in his mind. "well I think that we should choose our battle ground and team up with the security at the plant so we stand the best chance of stopping this guy" said the former S7 agent. "no we can't take the risk" said Sam "there are to many people who could get hurt there, not to mention that most of them will have never seen combat before, apache I need you to go and get a look at this guy tell me what he's doing and how powerful he is, get full scans then head back here as fast as you can".

Apache simply saluted and transformed into his alt flying away towards the energy signature and the Decepticon who was emitting it. As the aerial Autobot flew towards the suspected Decepticon Sam said "bee take a position over by that group of trees and get ready to give cover fire should anyone follow apache back, I'll take position behind these trees and simmons you get your self under the best cover you can and don't come out until it's safe". The tone left no room for argument so the former S7 agent took cover behind an old fallen tree some distance away from the young Prime as he muttered to himself about being ordered around by a kid less than half his age. Mean while Apache was maneuvering towards his target carefully as he did not want to be detected by the Decepticon before he was able to get a good scan. The tree-line broke and the aerial Autobot got his first look at the enemy that had destroyed the shuttle. Apache was stunned to the point that he almost stalled and fell to the ground in shock, the creature that stood before him was like nothing he had ever seen or heard of in is entire life. The form that was currently drinking energy from the power lines was twisted and deformed beyond all reason, the three massive legs that supported it's self with were misshapen and twisted. While the body was a massive hulking shape that was covered in a mix of circuits, armor and energon conduits. The upper-body had two large arms that reached to the floor while the back had two long cable like structures covered in thin purple glowing lines that pulsed as if powered by a heart beat. And to the further horror of Apache the face was swollen and distorted with jutting out jagged pieces of metal that looked like badly healed battle damage.

The aerial Autobot did not wait to get any more information as the sight had caused him the greatest pain possible. The silhouette of Apache appeared over the trees and as both Sam and Bee watched he flew as is he had been shot at. After about a minute the aerial Autobot made a hasty landing and knelled on the floor as if he was going to be sick once he had transformed into his robot mode. "what's wrong?" asked Sam as he rushed to Apache's side his face full of worry. The flyer did not respond and for he longest time as both Sam and Bumblebee stood over him worried about him. Finally Apache spoke his voice low and full of fear "there's a a thing over there feeding on the power lines, it's some kind of twisted form of cybertronian life like nothing I've ever seen". "what do you mean?" asked Sam and Apache activated his holographic generator in answer. The image that appeared before them explained everything in greater detail than any words ever could have and for the first few seconds of viewing the image something in Sam's spark said "that could have been me".